Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-29
NEW YORK LETTER.
4 nAK WHO REALIZES A HANDSOME
Sun FROM BEGGING.
Getting At Gould and Vanderbilt Women
as Experimentation and
Book.Agents.


NV YoRK, May %, 1887.
In one of the handsomest flats in
New York resides a man who is a pro-
ietsional begear. BY following this
occupation he has an income of $4,000
per year. He goes into good society,
ard is one OF the greatest wits and
practical jokers in town, SO that his
company is much sought after. He
does not 60 prowling about the streets.
however, begging quarter or what
ever he can get. He would disdain 20
accept less than 800; still he manages
TO collect $50, 000 every year. He used
90 be drummer for one OF the largest
dry-goods houses here, ana an ex-
celltpt one he was, too; but he
found he could make more money
begging. He never asks money from
any one but rich people, and
1 believe if any other kind of
people were to offer him money he
would refuse it. He does not, however,
beg directly for himself, but for the
New York Children's Home. The head
Of the dry goods firm with which he
was formerly engaged is the president
of this institution, and knowing that
his salesman was noted for his cheek
he asked him one day during dull
season il he would circulate among the
millionaires and get up subscriptions for
the maintenance of the institution.
He agreed, and the first day he started
ont he collected more than IT was ex-
pectCd he could do In week. The re-
suit was that he was offered certain
percentage of what he collected, and he
found that it would pay him to keep at
IL all the time.
He saws that at first ii was very try
ing work. but now he has 1t SO syste-
matized that on the whole he rather
hikes the business, aside from what
money there is in it. my exFe
rience, he said, "shows me that the
average New York millionaire is
much more liberal man than the pub
lie supposes. The only difficulty Is in
seeing these men and presenting your
claims. | worked SIX months before !
was able to see Jay Gould. During
that time / went to his Office on an
average of twice day, and my efforts
were in vain.
FINALLY caught him on an elevated
train, and, seating myself beside him,
be was obliged to listen to me. | asked
him for $500. He told me 10 call on
him the next day and he would give
ne bis check for the amount. | went
10 bis Office, but. notwithstanding /
stated what had passed between the
millionaire and myself, | was refused
admittance to his private room. | then
made up my mind that Mr.. Gould had
thrown me off hut | was determined
to watch him again. ! found ont where
he kept his private bank account ami
got check on that institution, which
filed out for $500. 4 mOnthafterwarGs
I ian across Mr.. Gould again in the
Windsor Hotel. He did not remember
me. Int | recalled our conversation,
and he again told me to call az his
office. hut ! replied by presenting HIM
the check and telling him 1t would not
take moment to put his signature to
If. and he did. Since then Mr.. Gould
has every wear renewed his subs'rip-
lion without any difficulty, ana Ireally
believe it gives him pleasure to DO 50.
Since then ] have cot to know him.
and the public would be surprised ii ii
knew the amount he gives away each
year in charity in this unostcntatious
manner.
CATCHING VANDERBILT.
Il had still greater difficulty in So
curing a subscription from the late
William H. Vanderbilt. | knew very
well that if | could talk with Mr.. Van
derbilt there would be no trouble about
getting him to give me a subscription,
and. after innumerablc calls upon him
without success:I discovered that he
was in the habit of having his tailor
send aman tomCasure him at his house
for a suit of clothes. went one night
TO his mansion and represented myself
as tailor, and in this way was ushered
into Mr. Vanlerbilt's presence. After
exchanging greetings / said
90 Mr.. Vanderbilt, in order to get to
see YOU have lied, but | have done 1t
III behalf of charity. Instead of coming
and measuring you for suit OF clothes
| have come tOmeasure your generosity
in behalf of most worthy instltu-
ton
The millionaire was very angry at
first and started to call his cdict and
have him show me the door, but I'M
peded his exit and kept on talking. and
before got through | had Mr.. Van
derbilt'S check for a neat sum besides
taking a glass of wine and cigar with
him. Up to the time of his death he
always renewed his subscription, and
his sons now do it for him.
The easiest of the millionalres to
get money from up TO year or so ago
was Il. =. Flower. but his warm heart
cd generosity became so well known
that the man was actually prosecuted.
Heis so democratic in his manners that
apv one who desires can get an audi
ence with him, and there is always a
lot of beegars about his Office hence
he was compelled to make 1t rule
only to subscribe to organized charity.
Now. il Won would see the subscrip-
ton books of the various charitable IN
sttutions YOU would see that New
York's rich men are pretty well repre-
sented upon them
WOMEN As TYPE-wRTrEBS.
Here is a bit of good news for girls
and Young women. Ii was told ne OF
the teacher of the best type-writing
school in the city, a woman Of the
highest integrity, ability, and an ex-
pert shorthand writer and typewriter.
She says the demand for young women
who can use the typewriter is far in ex-
cess Of the supply. A very superior
class of young women have adopted
the type writer busine IS as a profession.
Many of class who formerly adopt
ed teaching as a profession are now
taking up the business of steno-
grapby and type-writing and are oc-
cupying very high positions as such in
insurance companies, law offices, and in
most of the large corporations. Experts
in these offices earn from Sl2 to $40
week. The salary of one who under
stands type-writing alone does not
usually go beyond Sl5, although there
are some expert type-writers who earn
as high as $40 q week. Expert type
writers who can take dictation are even
more rare than stenographers. Many
IL E..